Armed bank robber sentenced to 12 years after €700,000 raid
An armed robber who carried out a “very well planned and organised” bank robbery of €700,000 has been given a 12-year sentence by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Foy (aged 47) and his co-accused Danny Hamill (aged 49) jammed an ATM machine to lure staff to the bank on a Saturday and then pushed their way into the premises heavily disguised and armed with loaded firearms.
Foy, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of bank staff and robbery of €700,000 at AIB, Crumlin Road on June 3, 2006.
Judge Hunt noted the raid had been “upsetting and distressing” for the two bank staff who were lured to the premises by Foy and Hamill and the danger of their everyday jobs had been highlighted.
“These were ordinary bank staff who did not have compensation packages and pensions top-ups,” he commented. He also commended a member of the public who had noticed something amiss and contacted the gardaí who then waited outside for the robbers to exit the bank.
Judge Hunt imposed a 12-year sentence but suspended the final four years on strict conditions until Foy’s 60th birthday in 2023 and warned him not to contemplate getting involved in criminality again or he would serve the four years.
His co-accused Hamill, of Clanmaurice Road, Donnycarney was given a 12-year sentence with the final two years suspended by Judge Hunt in July 2008.
Judge Hunt said the robbery had been “very well planned and organised” and the fact that the pair were in possession of a set of keys for the bank “has never been adequately explained”.
An ATM at the bank had been jammed triggering a call to two bank staff to attend at the premises to deal with the problem. As the staff entered the bank Foy and Hamill pushed their way inside wearing disguises.
Judge Hunt noted it was obvious that the two knew the layout of the bank and the location of CCTV cameras.
He said both men had loaded firearms which compelled the staff to comply when the men directed them to access money at locations inside the bank. The men then moved €700,000 and the CCTV unit to their van.
He said had it not been for an alert member of the public who noticed something strange was going on and rang gardaí, the detection of this offence would have been quite difficult.
The gardaí waited outside and when the men were confronted Foy complied with their directions to put down his firearm. Hamill in contrast pointed a loaded pistol at a garda before his arrest.
Judge Hunt noted that defence counsel, Mr Paul McDermott SC, had submitted Foy was a family man and good father to his children who had turned out well.
Judge Hunt ordered that no approach was to be made to any of the witnesses in the case by Foy nor was anyone to contact them on behalf of Foy.
